A/N: Happy Friday all! I decided to start the weekend off right by posting another short chapter for you to enjoy. See how much I love all my fans? ^_^

As always, I would like to welcome and thank the newest members of our little story club: Elliehandesu, Chris674241, Withchgar, Syrakys, and the ever popular Guest. (Making his/her/their collective 37th appearance...)

Anyway, as usual, I own squat. Just this story concept, everything else belongs to the honorable Oyuki Konno-san.

And now, back to our story...

Confrontation

Chapter 3 – An Unexpected Alliance

It had taken the three of them to get the nearly lifeless Sachiko up to her room. Touko and Youko had set to changing and putting her to bed as Sayako had called Miki-san to get her help and support. Now, Touko was keeping watch over her cousin as she slept fitfully, Yumi's name slipping from her lips as she did.

After finishing her call, Sayako along with Youko's help and support had a far more ominous task ahead: telling her husband Tooru of the new developments between Sachiko and Yumi. Sayako expected the news would upset her husband and put him off balance. She hoped that with Youko's help that they could alleviate some of the shock and possibly bring him to their side.

Their trepidation was palpable between the women as they entered Tooru's private study. The presence of the two women only meant one thing; they were concerned about Sachiko. Tooru had picked up on that immediately. Not that he could have missed it after observing the argument between his daughter and Yumi earlier. After leaving the veranda, he had returned to his study to contemplate the issue. He knew where his own feelings on the matter lead him, but because of his father's intentions for his daughter, he was unsure of the direction he should counsel Sachiko to take. Perhaps, he mused to himself, Sayako and Youko-chan could provide some insight for him. Unbeknownst to his wife, she had provided valuable assistance over the years on various issues the Ogasawara empire had faced. One day he really needed to thank her for that. But tonight held another issue to be dealt with.

He remained silent, to allow Sayako and Youko to present their concerns at their own pace. Sayako was the first to speak. "Tooru, there is a matter we need to address immediately."

Tooru looked up at her from his desk momentarily before replying. "And what is so important and urgent that would require my attention or Mizuno-chan's involvement?"

"Our daughter." Sayako replied firmly.

Tooru sat back for a moment and took in the determined look of the pair before him. "Go on…" He said.

Sayako looked at Youko briefly before continuing. "Sa-chan and Yumi-chan had a…disagreement this evening."

"A disagreement?" he asked.

Youko, speaking for the first time added. "A disagreement, if one could call a typhoon a minor atmospheric disturbance."

Tooru smiled at Youko's comparison before replying. "Oh? Those two are practically twin sisters. What could possibly cause such a minor disagreement between them?"

The pair shared a glance before Sayako answered. "It was concerning Sa-chan's feelings towards her and Suguru-sans upcoming wedding."

"…And the true nature of her relationship with Yumi-chan." Youko added.

Tooru raised an eyebrow. Now this was interesting. "Please continue…"

"I happened upon Sachiko and Yumi-chan's argument in the main study earlier." Sayako began. "It seems that Sa-chan has not been completely honest with us about Suguru-san. Not that he has been entirely honest with us either."

She now had his full attention. "What about Suguru-san?" He asked.

Hoping to soften the blow for Sachiko, she said. "He apparently does not love her. A point he made very clear to her several years ago. She does not love him either, at least not in the romantic sense. This is causing Sa-chan great consternation."

Surprise evident in his voice. "Is that all? This marriage is about sealing a business deal that was agreed upon decades ago after all. Whether they love each other or not is irrelevant. They need only to produce a male heir. Nothing more. They will adjust." He finished with finality.

"There are the other issues as well." Youko interjected, prodding Sayako. "Indeed." Sayako said. "It appears that Suguru-san is...not as fond of women as we have been lead to believe."

"You mean…" Tooru began.

"He likes men." Youko stated flatly. "I see." Tooru said, as his face grew deeply concerned. Then to Youko he asked. "How long have you known of this Youko-san?"

"Since my senior year at Lillian. Sachiko was the one to tell me about it. Apparently, he had told her several years before that." She replied.

Tooru nodded his head slowly. He then let out a sigh as he looked down at his desk. The fingers of his left hand began drumming on its surface. After a moment of thought he finally said. "This is unfortunate." Both Sayako and Youko nodded their silent agreement. "This is bad." He continued. "If this gets out before the wedding, it could have serious consequences within the company. Not to mention his ascension to the board. And that does not include the investor's reactions. I can see why Sa-chan is concerned. We may have to move the ceremony up…" He paused, waiting for his wife's reaction.

Sayako looked to Youko nervously, and then back to her husband. "I think you misunderstand my husband." She said. "I did not bring this to your attention so that we could advance the date of the wedding. I believe that we should cancel the engagement and marriage altogether."

It was the answer Tooru was hoping to hear from his wife. He allowed himself a small smile as he briefly glanced at her before replying. "And why would I do such a thing?" Sayako looked nervously at him as she said. "Because of the other issue…"

"Which is?" He asked seriously.

Shaking slightly out of fear of her husband's reaction. Sayako told him the real reason for their discussion. "Sa-chan is in love with Yumi-chan."

Surprised at his wife's honesty, Tooru snapped his head up and stared at her. He said nothing for several seconds before looking to Youko and asking. "Is this true?"

"Hai." Youko responded. "They have been together since Sachiko's graduation. Sachiko has insisted on keeping their relationship a secret. Even from her closest friends. Not that we really needed them to tell us the obvious."

Nodding his head in understanding. "And that would bring us to tonight's great rift?" He said.

"Hai, my husband." Sayako replied.

Sitting back, Tooru steepled his hands in front of his chin. His eyes closed as though in thought, he replayed the argument he had witnessed earlier between the Chinensis sisters in his mind over again. Several minutes later, Sayako cautiously ventured. "Your thoughts my husband?" Keeping his eyes closed, Tooru replied. "I am disappointed of course…"

Not knowing how to take his response, Sayako decided to press the issue in Sachiko's favor. "Tooru," She began. "Of all people, I would expect that you would understand that the heart wants what the heart wants. In that aspect, Sa-chan is very much like you. She would not have ventured into such a relationship on a mere whim. She would have considered all the potential effects that decision. If a life with Yumi-chan is where her heart leads, then it is a path she must follow. You should not hold this against Sa-chan."

Tooru's eyes popped open at his wife's statement. "I don't." He told her. Seeing the confused looks between the two women in front of him, a small smile crossed his face. 'Surprise achieved.' He thought. He then explained to them. "I am afraid that you have now misunderstood my love. I am not upset with Sa-chan, Suguru, or even Yumi-chan. I am disappointed only because none of them have had the courage to come tell me about this themselves."

Sayako and Youko shared a surprised look before saying together. "You knew?"

Tooru smiled openly as he said. "For some time, even before tonight's disagreement. It is hard to keep such secrets these days." Seeing his wife's questioning look, he continued. "No love, I did not have them under surveillance. Rumors regarding Suguru-san's predilection have been reaching my ears for years. As for Yumi-chan and Sa-chan…well, I am not as blind to what occurs in our home as some would believe I am. Not even I could miss the look of love that passes between those two every time I see them together. It has been obvious for some time that they are more than soeurs." He paused briefly. "While it is not the future I had in mind for Sa-chan, I am aware of the positive changes in her these last few years. Those changes are entirely because of Yumi-chan's presence and almost infinite patience. I do not wish to see a return of the miserable creature that Sa-chan was before."

Sayako and Youko began to relax as he talked. Sayako ventured. "So, what are we to do now?"

Tooru replied. "I am glad you asked my love. First of all; for their own peace of mind and well being, they will each need to come to me privately and talk about their dissatisfaction regarding the marriage and their reasons why. Individually of course, they should not know of the other's visits with me. At least not right away." Frowning for a moment, he continued. "Sayako, from what I over-heard earlier, Sa-chan needs the most help at the moment correct?" Sayako nodded her head sadly in agreement.

"Yumi-chan really gave her a beating tonight." He said with chagrin. "Perhaps I need to hire her as a motivational speaker for some of my problem managers." He added with a small chuckle.

Sayako and Youko could only look at him in amazement at what he knew of their argument earlier. "Touko-chan and I are already working on that aspect." Sayako told him.

Tooru smiled at his wife. "As I knew you would my love." Then. "And Yumi-chan?"

"Youko has her covered, along with Yumi's family. They are aware of the current situation." She said. "Yumi…she has almost lost hope."

Tooru shared a concerned look with her. "So I heard. I am not sure which bothered me more, seeing Sa-chan break down or Yumi-chan's plea for recognition. That...was hard to see and hear. Having her lose that hope would be...unacceptable. That simply must not happen." He then added. "I will handle Suguru-san and his family, as they seem to be the unknown factor in all this. I will explain to them that the wedding is unlikely to occur, ever, depending on Sa-chan's wishes of course."

While Youko was delighted to see what an organized family like the Ogasawara's could accomplish in a crisis, she was concerned about another issue. "Um, Tooru-sama," she began. "What of your father?"

Tooru gave the pair a grim smile before he said. "Ah, yes. Father. If he wishes to remain part of the family business, he will need to adjust his stance on the arrangement. The board has assigned enough control to me over the last few years that I can maintain my position and direction of the company despite his protests and subversive machinations. That does not mean that hearing the news about their decision will be easy for him to bear. It is likely to be very stormy for a while with him. When the time is right however, I would still like to have Sa-chan and Suguru-san confirm their mutual decision to dissolve the marriage portion of the agreement to him in person. It wouldn't hurt to have Yumi-chan's presence and assistance in that matter either."

Youko and Sayako nodded in agreement and shared their first real smile of the evening. A plan had been set and executed, an unexpected ally had been joined, and for the moment a path forward was clear.

Now to get the two love birds back on track…

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